Author: Elan

For years, dollar-denominated stablecoins have been pitched as an accessible way for people in emerging markets to preserve the value of their income in economies where local currencies lose value quickly. Freelancers often choose to get paid in stablecoins, giving them easier access to US dollars. Yet the biggest barrier has been the gap between how non-crypto-savvy clients pay (via traditional fiat rails) and how freelancers want to be paid (dollar-denominated digital currencies they can directly access). This mismatch has limited the real-world utility of stablecoins for the global gig economy. To bridge this gap, Ruul, a global startup that…

Global payments giant Visa has partnered with Aquanow, a global digital assets company, to extend its stablecoin settlement capabilities across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA). Rather than relying solely on traditional banking rails, this partnership allows Visa’s network of issuers and acquirers in the region to settle transaction obligations using stablecoins, specifically USD Coin (USDC). It combines Aquanow’s digital assets and infrastructure with Visa’s traditional technology stack, enabling banks to transfer funds using blockchain technology instead of relying on legacy fiat wire transfers, and will support 365-day settlement capabilities. “By harnessing the power of stablecoins…

CAPTCHAs were meant to keep bots out, but too often, they lock people with disabilities out, too. From image classification to click-based tests, many “human checks” are anything but inclusive. There’s no universal solution, but understanding real user needs is where accessibility truly starts.The Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart (CAPTCHA) has become ingrained in internet browsing since personal computers gained momentum in the consumer electronics market. For nearly as long as people have been going online, web developers have sought ways to block spam bots.The CAPTCHA service distinguishes between human and bot activity to…

Ugunja — Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi on Thursday exuded voiced confidence in the ongoing Ugunja Constituency by-election, praising what he described as a smooth, peaceful and professionally managed exercise. Wandayi cast his vote at Luanda polling station in Sidindi Ward, where he hailed election officials and security teams for ensuring order since the polls opened at 6am. “So far, I’m very impressed by the peaceful nature of the exercise,” he said. Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn “I’ve received reports that the entire constituency commenced voting on time, and it has been peaceful so far.”…

Jean Guyonnet-Dupérat, regional director for East Africa at Proparco** For the best experience, download the free Africa Private Equity News app Android | iOS **French development finance institution Proparco has completed an investment in BasiGo, a Nairobi-based e-mobility start-up providing electric bus solutions for public transport operators in Kenya and Rwanda.BasiGo currently has 100 electric buses deployed across Kenya and Rwanda. The company locally assembles electric buses, develops and operates charging infrastructure, and partners with bus operators to offer a cost-effective electric alternative to diesel for mass public transport in African cities. Proparco’s investment in BasiGo forms part of the…

FSD Africa (FSDA) today announced the launch of a new $25 – 30 million Inclusive Insurtech Investment Fund (3iF) at the BimaLab Africa Insurtech Summit. The fund is designed to catalyze private investment in the insurance technology (insurtech) sector, accelerate innovation, and close the continent’s substantial insurance protection gap. Africa faces a profound challenge, with insurance penetration remaining below 3% in most countries. This vulnerability is starkly visible in disaster recovery: approximately 80% of economic losses from natural disasters went uninsured in 2022, a notable increase from 58% in 2021. The 3iF aims to tackle this by backing early-stage insurtech…

This month, at the 30th UN Climate Conference (COP3O) in Brazil, Rwanda signed the International Declaration to Triple Global Nuclear Energy Capacity by 2050, a move that officials at Rwanda Atomic Energy Board (RAEB) expect to position the country for finance and technology transfer. ALSO READ: Inside Rwanda’s Rwf90 billion nuclear energy deal The declaration recognises nuclear energy as a key pillar for achieving global net-zero emissions, aimed at stopping the addition of further pollution to the planet. Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines The latest signatures bring the total number of supporting countries to 33,…

In brief Cross the Ages is launching a free-to-play action role-playing game called Arise. It has just entered a two-week alpha testing phase on the Epic Games Store. It follows a strategic partnership with crypto venture capital firm Animoca Brands, which previously committed to purchase “several million dollars” worth of the CTA token. Cross the Ages is best known for its NFT trading card game, but has also released a novel, an album, and merchandise in which is being touted as a transmedia ecosystem. The makers of crypto-fueled gaming franchise Cross the Ages have launched a two-week alpha test for…

Starlink rival Amazon Leo has launched a waitlist for many countries, including Nigeria, to collect details of would-be early users of its satellite Internet service when it eventually rolls out. Recall that the company recently began its first public testing with select enterprise customers ahead of an anticipated wider commercial rollout in 2026. The list provides for three broad categories of users: Government: Government agencies and service providers like schools, hospitals, etc. Personal: individual users like you Business: corporate users and business owners It also provides three different router types: Ultra: It will support download speeds of up to 1Gbps…

Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority🗣️ This is an open thread.We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments and vote in the poll below — your take might be featured in a future roundup. Google has long surpassed Microsoft and continues to challenge Apple in the mobile operating system sphere, but it still lags behind both in the PC world. Sure, Chrome OS is popular in the education and business computing market, but Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS dominate almost everywhere else. I’m writing this piece from a Windows-based desktop, not a Chrome OS-based laptop, after all.…